[Overexpression of COX-2 and its clinical significance in non-small cell lung cancer].

OBJECTIVE

To study the relations among COX-2 expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), its clinical characteristics and brognosis.

METHODS

Immunostaining was performed with COX-2 antibody to the surgically resected tissue samples from 79 patients with NSCLC. Vessel epithelium cell COX-2 expression was taken as positive control.

RESULTS

The positive rate of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma was 85% and 57%, respectively (P = 0.013). COX-2 expression was associated with the extent of adenocarcinoma differentiation, tumor size, and TNM period, but not with the extent of squamous cell carcinoma differentiation. In the COX-2 positive group, the 5-year survival rate and a median survival time were 27.1% and 53 months; however in the negative group they were 52.0% and 61 months (P = 0.029).

CONCLUSION

Invasive development of NSCLC is related to inceased expression of COX-2. COX-2 overexpression may be one of the risky factors for the prognosis of NSCLC.